Wednesday, January 13, 2016

It's hard to believe this littlest girl of mine is 8 and getting baptized this week. She has been so excited and looking forward to this day for a long time. I took her to Deseret Book to pick out her own set of scriptures. She had picked out a nice burgundy set until a tiny little set of four books (new testament, old testament, book of mormon and doctrine & covenants/pearl of great price) caught her eye. She instantly knew she wanted that little set (and it didn't hurt that it was on sale for $8). She picked out a few book marks (one with a picture of each latter-day prophet and the other with a schedule to read the book of mormon in one year), a scripture case and scripture marking pencils and we were good to go.

She was so excited to start marking her scriptures and Gavin told her she should look at my scriptures to see how I marked mine and do something similar with hers (using different colored pencils for specific themes). I found her a few minutes later with my scriptures going through each page and highlighting the exact same scriptures that I had highlighted and in the same colors (except she chose orange to mark her favorite scriptures). The first scripture she marked with orange as one of her favorites was the one her big brother, Jack, chose as his favorite to share on his mission plaque that is hanging up in the church. Awwww!!

The next night I had my mission reunion here at my house and it was late. I had asked the kids to please hurry and get in bed since it was a school night and almost midnight. I went into Mia's room and was upset that Griffin and Mia were still awake and talking. They were sitting on Mia's bed with scriptures open and reading the Articles of Faith and trying to decide which color they should use, (I gave Mia a sticky note to put in the front of her scriptures with the color key for different scriptural themes..faith, Christ, prayer, commandments/obedience, missionary work, etc) "I think we should use red for the 1st one because it mostly talks about God and Jesus." Then a few minutes later, "I think that scripture is about missionary work, don't you?" So cute! How do you get mad about that?

She is excited for her big day and wants to invite everyone that she knows! She also can't wait to get her baptism memory book from her grandma. When I told her Grandma and Grandpa might be out of town for her baptism, her only concern was whether she would still get the baptism scrapbook or not. Luckily, we changed the date to earlier in the month and not only will Grandma and Grandpa be in town but so will her cousins and Aunt and Uncle from Washington!

Friday, December 25, 2015

I thought it would be fun to do a 25 Days Countdown for Jack's first Christmas in the mission field. I was late at getting started and had to hurry to get things there in time for him to open something each day. I would've tried to do something more centered around Christ if I had thought it out better. I tried to tie in a scripture or thought with each gift but didn't write them down before I mailed them and of course don't remember what I wrote with each gift but this shows the general idea for his countdown.

Day 1Advent calendars for his companion and 2 roommates

Day 2 Elf on the Shelf

Day 3

Deck The Halls (or your apartment) for Christmas!

Day 4

Paper Christmas Tree. I cut this tree out of butcher paper and then sent it to him with tinsel, lights, a light up star for the top of the tree and ornaments that represented favorites for him and his companion.

Christmas Ornaments

Day 5

Hot cocoa and mugs for Jack, his companion and roommates

Day 6Christmas stationery and snowman candle

Day 7Christmas goodies to make and to share

Day 8Reindeer antlers and noses

Day 9

Magnetic Snowman and Christmas Trees

Day 10

Snow in a can (for the sunny Christmas in Houston)

Day 11

Yummy Christmas Treat

Day 12

Old Maid Card Game

Day 13

Christmas Paddle Ball Tournament

Day 14

Make a Gingerbread House

Day 15Panini Grill

Day 16Pine Scented Candle...Let your Light Shine

Day 17

"Baby It's Cold Outside" hand warmers

Day 18Calendar with sticky notes and messages from ward members.

Day 19100 Days on his mission = 100 piece puzzle. Seals, of course.

Day 20
My missionary loves frogs so I try to always send him a few frog items. Frog notepad, book mark, notebook and "excelente" frog stamp .

Day 21

CTR rings in Spanish to give to investigators, members and recent converts with a picture of his little brother wearing his CTR that was published on Spanish LDS website with a Spanish quote from Elder Holland.

Day 22Star Wars premiere was on this day back home so I sent him some Star Wars decorations and candy to make him feel included in our family viewing.

Team Morgan's Buddy Walk Registration

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About us

We quickly filled our home with 6 beautiful children--3 boys and 3 girls. This blog is about our adventures, memories, travels, accomplishments, frustrations, traditions, chaos and hopefully some laughter. But it's also about my journey of being a mother to a daughter with Down syndrome and the gift that she is to our family! This is our story . . .